In a nutshell: Tax season is a time of year when filers fall victim to fraud by scammers who steal their information to get over on the IRS. This issue is common and affects millions of taxpayers’ lives and financial situations per year. It can also come as a surprise to people who have never had their identities and documentation stolen. Fraudsters often target vulnerable individuals such as retirees and Social Security recipients, especially those who mainly rely on their fixed incomes to pay bills and purchase daily essential items. Also, they know that their victims are likely to be held responsible unfairly.
Tax season is a time of year when filers fall victim to fraud by scammers who steal their information to get over on the IRS. This issue is common and affects millions of taxpayers’ lives and financial situations per year. It can also come as a surprise to people who have never had their identities and documentation stolen. Fraudsters often target vulnerable individuals such as retirees and Social Security recipients, especially those who mainly rely on their fixed incomes to pay bills and purchase daily essential items. Also, they know that their victims are likely to be held responsible unfairly.
In this day and age, tax fraud is committed using more elaborate methods involving AI to craft personal emails and text messages. Links and phone calls are also two common techniques that scammers use to spur feelings of panic and urgency, causing victims to volunteer confidential information (Social Security numbers, birthdates, and bank account numbers) as a result of various scare tactics, including unclaimed refunds and threats of legal action.
If you have been targeted by ghost tax preparers or AI-powered phishing intended to gather your personal information, read on for several steps to file a report through an IRS branch in your residential district:
Be aware that you cannot report fraud anonymously as a whistleblower. You are required to reveal your identity to receive a monetary benefit in exchange for entering the whistleblower program. Therefore, you must think carefully about reporting tax fraudsters.
Ensure you enter information in each form field when reporting a scam. You’re required to use your real name during the submission process. While the IRS keeps taxpayer information confidential, officials may inform the fraudster of a pending or active investigation.
System bugs can be a significant obstacle when trying to file a fraud report because they can prevent users from accessing their accounts or submitting important forms. Many users experience slow server responses, invalid links, or form submission errors, especially while filling out the online information referral application. Therefore, if you find yourself waiting extended periods for the online portal to function properly, you must switch to a more effective method to reach out to a technical representative.
The best way to contact the IRS is via phone to communicate with a specialist at the closest branch in your state or city. This method is highly recommended due to its efficiency and reliability if you do not have a strong Wi-Fi connection or if the IRS website is down due to scheduled maintenance. It’s also an effective alternative that is popular among taxpayers due to its quicker response times and reduced waiting periods. You must also remember to have vital information such as your name, Social Security number, and birthdate ready to verify yourself as a legitimate taxpayer.
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